Device for removing obstructions from drain pipes and for like purposes



Jan. 19, 1932. 1- HAlNEs v DEVICE FOR REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS FROM DRAINPIPES AND FOR LIKE PURPOSES Filed Aug. 31, 1931 aw my H .R firm/m Wm .5

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Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS G. HAINES, .OI' DAYTON, OHIODEVICE FOR REMOVIN G OBSTRUCTIONS FROM DRAIN PIPES AND FOR LIKE PURPOSESApplication filed August 31, 1931. SerialNo. 560,410.

This invention relates to a clean-out deyice for removing obstructionsfrom dram pipes and for like purposes. In removing an obstruction from aclogged drain pipe 1t 18 cuso tomary to employ a long wire or flexiblerod which is forced through the pipe and whlch is rotated about itslongitudinal axis to force the same past bends in the pipe and throughthe obstruction. A. form of rod whlch is w commonly used comprises atightly coiled wire having at one end a head to engage and remove theobstruction and to guide the end otthe rod about turns in the pipe.Ordinarily such a rod is provided with a detachable handle for forcingthe same through the pipe and for rotating the same. In practice thishandle is connected with the rod at a point spaced some distance fromthe end of the pipe and the rod then forced into the pipe, after whichthe handle is detached and moved back another step from the end of thepipe and then actuated to force another portion of the rod into thepipe. This method of actuating the rod is unsatisfactory not onlybecause it is slow and ineflicient in its operation but because thatportion of the rod which is not in the pipe is unsupported and lies onthe floor of the room in which the work is being done and inasmuch asthese rods are often very dirty this is highly objectionable.

One object of the invention is to provide means for forcing a rodthrough the pipe in which the rod will be wound on a reel and which willhave means for withdrawing the rod from the reel and force the same intothe pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in whichthe reel will be rotatable about an axis extending lengthwise of thatportion of the rod which is in the pipe so that the rod may be turnedabout its longitudinal axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device with verysimple and easily operated actuating means for the rod.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described indetail.

' In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a side elevation of a deviceembodying my invention Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken centrally throu h thedevice; and Fig. 4 is a detail view s owing the actuating deviceprovided with an extension.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention butit will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosenfor the purposes of illustration only and that the device may takevarious forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that embodiment of the invention here illustrated the devicecomprises a frame 5 which is preferably circular in form and which ishere shown as comprising two side members 6 and 7 rigidly connected oneto the other and spaced apart to receive between them a drum 8 which isrotatably mounted thereon. One side member, 6, of the frame has an openslot 9 extending entirely about the same and a handle 10 secured to thedrum projects through that slot and provides means for rotating the drumwithin the frame. One end of the rod is attached to the drum in anysuitable manner, as by means of a clamp-actuated by a thumb nut 11. Theflexible rod may be of any suitable character but is here shown at 12 ascomprising a tightly coiled wire having at its forward end a head 13.When the device is not in use the rod is wound on the drum, as shown inthe drawings, and the outer end portion of the rod extends through asuitable guideway at one side of the frame. In the present constructiona tubular member 14 is rigidly secured to the frame and extendssubstantially radially therefrom, the passageway through this tubeconstitutinga guide for the rod and the tubular member itselfconstituting a support and a guide for the actuating device. Movablymounted upon the member 14 is an actuating device which may be of anysuitable character. Preferably it is slidably mounted on the guidemember 14 and, as here shown, it consists of a tubular member 15, theinner portion of which telescopes the guide member 14 and is slidablethereon and the outer portion of which extends beyond the guide memberand may be of reduced diameter as shown at 16. The rear end of theactuating member 15 is supported on the guide by a cap or plug 17inserted in the inner end thereof which is slidably mounted on the guideand which also serves as a stop to engage a flange 18 at the outer endof the guide, this flange also serving as a support for the outerportion of the actuating member.

The rod of course extends beyond the guide and through the outer endportion of the actuating member. The actuating member is provided with asuitable gripping device which will engage the rod and advance the samewhen the actuating member is moved outwardly but which will release therod and permit the actuating member to move with relation thereto whenthe latter is moved inwardly. This gripping device may take variousforms but, in the present instance, it comprises a. pawl 19 pivotallymounted between lugs 20 on the actuating device, the latter having anopening or slot 21 through which the nose of the pawl may extend intoengagement with the rod. The end of the pawl may grip the rod in anydesired manner but preferably the rod is provided with serrations orteeth which are engaged by the nose of the pawl. In the present instancethe coils of the rod form these serrations. A spring 22 presses the pawlnormally into engagement with the rod so that upon outward movement ofthe actuating member the rod will be caused to move with the same but onthe inward movement of the actuating member the pawl will ride over therod. To prevent the reverse movement of the rod when the actuatingmember is moved inwardly a detent is mounted on the frame and thisdetent is here shown as a pawl 23 adapted to extend through a slot 24 inthe tubular guide and to engage the rod, a spring 25 holding the pawlnormally in engagement with the rod. Means are also provided forretaining both pawls in inoperative positions to permit the rod to berewound onto the drum and for this purpose each pawl is provided with alongitudinal slot 26 through which its pivot pin extends and whichpermits the same to be moved bodily transversely to its axis and itsnose moved into engagement with the outer surface of the part on whichit is mounted, that is, the outer surface of the actuating member or theouter surface of the tubular part on the frame, as shown in dotted linesin Fi 1.

The frame and the drum may be rotated bodily about an axis substantiallycoincident with the tubular guide, thus causing the rod to be rotatedabout its longitudinal axis to force the end or head thereof through ob-St-lllCtlOIlS and about turns in the pipg I prefer to provide the framewith a support which may engage the body of the operator or which may begrasped by the hand of the operator according to the conditions underwhich the work is being done and this support is pivotally connectedwith the frame on an axis substantially in line with the guidewaythrough which the rod leaves the frame. In the present construction, abracket 27 is secured to that side of the frame opposite the tubularguide 14 and has pivotally mounted thereon a supporting member 28 whichis of such a shape that it may engage the body of the operator or may begrasped in the hand of the operator.

In the operation of the device the end of the rod which projects beyondthe actuating device is inserted in the pipe and the actuating devicereciprocated to feed the rod step by step into the pipe, the operatorapplying such pressure as may be necessary through the supporting device28. When the movement of the rod is retarded by the contact of the head13 with an obstruction or with a turn in the pipe the frame as a wholeis rotated thus rotating the rod and causing the head to be forcedthrough the obstruction or to work its way about the bend in the pipe.When the rod has been moved entirely through the pipe the pawls 19 and25 are retracted and secured in their inoperative positions and the drumthen rotated to withdraw the rod and wind the same on the drum.

In some instances, and particularly where considerable pressure isnecessary to force the rod through the pipe, the actuating device may beplaced in contact with or secured to the pipe and the frame and drummoved with relation to the actuating device. in this man ner theoperator may apply any desired pressure on the frame and the detent pawl23 will then act as the feeding pawl and the pawl 19 will act as adetent.

When the pipe which is to be cleaned is located overhead or at suchother position that it is difficult to place the actuating de vicedirectly in line therewith. the actuating device may be provided with anextension tube 29 having a laterally extending end portion which may beinserted in or connected with the pipe and will thus hold the tube 2?;and the actuating device against longitudinal movement and bymanipulating the frame the rod may be forced through the extension 29and through the pipe.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to he understood that I do not desire to be lim ited to the detailsthereof as various modifi- 3 cations may occur to a person skilled inthe art.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described. a frame adapted to besupported by the operator, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame andadapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon, said frame having aguideway through which the rod may extend, and an actuating devicemounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement and comprising a partarranged to grip said rod and advance the same when said actuatingdevice is moved in one direction and to release said rod when saidactuating device is moved in the other direction, said actuating devicealso having a part forming a hand grip whereby it may be manipulated bythe operator who supports said frame.

2. In a mechanism for moving a flexible cleaning rod through a conduit,a frame adapted to be supported by the operator, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have said rod wound thereon, saidframe having a guideway throu h which said rod may extend, a devicemovagly connected with said frame, adapted to engage the end of saidconduit and having means to engage saidrod and hold the latter againstreverse movement with relation thereto, and means carried by said frameto prevent the reverse movement of said rod with relation to said frame,whereby the movement of said frame away from said device will cause aportion of said rod to be Withdrawn from said drum and the movement ofsaid frame toward said device will cause said portion of said rod to beadvanced with relation to said device.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, anactuating device mounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement andcom rising a part arranged to grip said rod an advance the same whensaid actuating device is moved in one direction and to release said rodwhen said actuating device is moved in the other direction, and a detentcarried by said frame and arranged to hold said rod against reversemovement when it is released by said actuating device. i

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, anactuating device mounted on said frame for reciprocatory movement andcomprising a part arranged to rip said rod and advance the same whensaid actuating device is moved in one direction and to release said rodwhen said actuating device is moved in the other direction, a detentcarried by said frame and arranged to hold said rod against reversemovement when it is released by said actuating device, and means forretaining said part of said actuating device and said detent ininoperative positions while said rod is being wound on said drum.

5. In a device of the character described,

' a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have aflexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through whichsaid rod may extend, and an actuating device carried by said frame andhaving a part to engage said rod and advance the same, said frame andsaid drum being rotatable about an axis substantially in line with saidguideway.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, anactuating device carried by said frame and having a part to engage saidrod and advance the same, and a support for said frame, said frame beingrotatably mounted on said support on an axis substantially in line withsaid guideway. a

7. n a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,said frame having a guideway through which said rod may extend, anactuating device carried by said frame and having a part to engage saidrod and advance the same, and a supporting member pivotally connectedwith that side of said fram opposite said guideway on an axissubstantially in .line with said guideway.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transversetothe axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod mayextend, and an actuating device movably mounted on said guide andcomprising a gripping member to engage said rod and advance the samewhen said actuating device is moved in one direction.

9. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,a guide projecting beyond the edge-of said frame on a line transverse tothe axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod mayextend, a device movably mounted on said guide and comprising a grippingmember to engage said rod, and a gripping member on said frame to engagesaid rod, said gripping members being so arranged that the relativemovement of said frame and said device in one direction will cause oneof said gripping devices to advance said rod.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon,a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transverse tothe axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod mayextend, a member slidably mounted on said guide, and

a gripping device carried by said member and arranged to engage said rodand advance the same when said member is moved in one direction and torelease said rod when said member is moved in the other direction.

11. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,a guide projecting beyond the edge of said frame on a line transverse tothe axis of said drum and having an opening through which said rod mayextend, a member slidably mounted on said guide, a pawl pivoted on saidmember, and a spring to hold said pawl in engagement with said rod, saidmember having a part to be engaged by said pawl and to support said pawlin an inoperative position.

12. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,a tubular member carried by said frame and through which said rod mayextend, a second tubular member slidably mounted on the first mentionedtubular member and having a part extending beyond the outer end of saidfirst mentioned tubular member, and gripping devices carried by saidtubular members and adapted to engage said rod, said gripping devicesbeing so arran ed that the longitudinal movement of one tu ular memberwith relation to the other in one direction will cause one of saidgripping devices to advance said rod.

13. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,an elongated member mounted on said frame and having a passageway forsaid rod, a tubular member slidably mounted on said elongated member andhaving a part etxending beyond said elongated member and provided withan opening in the side wall thereof, a gripping device mounted on saidtubular member and extending through said opening, and means toyieldably press said gripping device into engagement with said rod.

- 14. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,an elongated member mounted on said frame and having a passageway forsaid rod, a tubular member slidably mounted on said elongated member andhavtending through said opening, said pawl being mounted for movementtransverse to its axis to cause the end thereof to engage the outersurface of said tubular member.

15. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have aflexible rod wound thereon, an elongated member mounted on said frameand having a passageway for said rod, a tubular member slidably mountedon said elongated member and having a part extending beyond saidelongated member and provided with an opening in the side wall thereof,and a spring pressed pawl carried by said tubular member and extendingthrough said 0 ening, and a spring pressed pawl mounted on said frameand arranged to engage said rod and hold the same against reversemovement, said pawls being mounted for bodily movement into engagementwith relatively fixed parts of said device to hold said pawls ininoperative positions.

16. In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame and adapted to have a flexible rod wound thereon,a guide extending substantially radially from one side of said frame andthrough which said rod may pass, an actuating device slidably mounted onsaid guide and having means to engage and advance said rod when saidactuating member is moved in one direction, means carried by said frameto hold said rod against reverse movement when said actuating device ismoved in the other direction, and a supporting member pivotally mountedon that side of said frame opposite said guide on an axis substantiallyin line with said guide.

17. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have aflexible rod wound thereon, a guide extending substantially radiallyfrom one side of said frame and through which said rod may pass, anactuating device slidably mounted on said guide and having means toengage and advance said rod when said actuating member is moved in onedirection, means carried by said frame to hold said rod against reversemovement when said actuating device is moved in the other direction. andmeans for so supporting said frame that said frame and said drum may berotated about an axis substantially in line with said guide.

18. In a device of the character described, T

a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to have aflexible rod wound thereon, said frame having a guideway through whichsaid rod may extend, a

part movably mounted on said frame. and 1 way through which said rod mayextend, a

part projecting from said frame adjacent to said guideway, a memberslidably mounted on said part, and rod gripping devices carried by saidframe and said slidable member and so arranged that the outward movementof said frame with relation to said member will cause the grippingdevice on said frame to advance said rod.

20 In a device of the character described, a frame, a drum rotatablymounted on said frame, and adapted to have a flexible rod Wound thereon,said frame having a guide- Way through which said rod may extend, a partmovably mounted on said frame, and rod gripping devices carried by saidframe and said movable part and so arranged that the relative movementof said frame and said part in one direction will cause one of saidgripping devices to advance said rod, and a tubular extension carried bysaid movable part and having a laterally extending end portion. Intestimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

THOMAS G. HAINES.

